Bleacher Report - Articles by Patrick Shields

What I Love About Sports

Patrick Shields — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:19:02 -0400

In a time when steroids and scandals are tainting the game, the Bulls/Celtics series reminded me of the many reasons that I love sports:

Game 7's.

Buzzer Beaters.

Posterizing dunks.

College Football opening weekend.

The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

March Madness and the Final Four.

Night games at Fenway and day games at Wrigley.

Sunday at Augusta and the Green Jacket.

Everything about Augusta.

The month of April.

Fight Night at the MGM.

Dike Mutombo's finger wag.

Every UNC/Duke basketball game ever played.

Tailgating before football games.

The 1995 Braves (So I'm a little bias).

K-Rod's slider.

Ken Griffey Jr's swing.

Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and every other baseball legend who accomplished what they did without steroids.

Watching Ovechkin and Crosby go at it on the ice.

NHL Playoff Hockey, especially in Canada.

The World Cup.

The Little League World Series.

Mike Tyson.

The Grandstands at Talladega.

Lebron, Kobe and Wade pushing each other to a new level.

The Redeem Team.

A cold beer on a warm day at the ballpark.

Upsets.

Stephen Curry and his mom.

Bill Simmons.

Manny Ramirez's personality.

Any stadium that hasn't sold out its naming rights.

St. Andrew's.

Catching a foul ball.

Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant and Brandon Roy, the future of the NBA.

December's at Lambeau.

SEC football.

The NFL Playoffs.

The Hail Mary.

Athletes who give back because they want too, not because they have too.

Patty Mills.

Did I mention Augusta?

Hopefully the second round of the NBA playoffs can trump the first, or maybe the NHL will become relevant again, but if not, I will continue to love sports simply because I hope to be inspired again.

A New Year's Wish: Please Grant It, Sam Bradford

Patrick Shields — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:02:55 -0500

Dear Sam Bradford,

Please beat Florida tomorrow. Pretty Pretty Please. I honestly don’t think you understand how much I am rooting for you and the Sooners.

If Ole Miss, a second tier SEC team, can air it out against the Gators secondary, there is no reason that you can’ t put up 400 yards tomorrow night. Iglesias versus the Gator’s secondary, are you kidding me? That alone should result in 150 yards and a TD. Combine that with screen passes to Chris Brown and quick hits to Gresham and there is no reason that you all should ever run the ball.

Display that mobility that I know you have to Sam. Move around in the pocket, scramble, make plays that would make even Brett Favre blush. I know you may not have the scrambling abilities of Timmy T but at the same time you aren’t Jason White, your knees aren’t going to explode if you attempt a QB draw.

Sure the Gators may be favored, but what is more motivating than being an underdog and hearing all month that you don’t deserve to be in the title game. Will your team to victory Sam. Impress the nation with your skills and more importantly impress the NFL scouts that will be watching.

There is no reason that you shouldn’t be the No. 1 pick in April, no reason. You have the arm, the size, the decision making ability and tomorrow night is your time to show that.

So take the field tomorrow night Sam and let fly an aerial assault unlike anything that Florida has seen before, because if you don’t, that means I’ll have to play for the Lions next year.

Regards,

Matt Stafford

Five Quick Hits From the NFL's Preseason Games

Patrick Shields — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:41:32 -0400

Well, six preseason games have come and gone, and already I am anticipating the Redskins-Ravens matchup that will undoubtedly happen in XLIII. Ha.

To you 'Skins fans out there who have conjured up dreams of a Super Bowl victory after Sunday's win, please, take a deep breath, count to 10, and bring yourself back down to earth. Your team is good, but the Colts approach preseason games like the Dolphins do the regular season.

My thoughts and analysis of what I have seen so far

1) The QB situation in Baltimore is even more muddled than it was before.

Kyle Boller went 11-15 for 102 yards and averaged 6.8 YPA. Add a fumble and an INT and you have a performance more resembling a backup than a starter.

Troy Smith posted a line of 5-12 for 74 yards and 6.2 YPA, but unlike Boller, he did not turn the ball over. Still, Smith was not effective on the field and could never seem to find a rhythm.

Flacco went 0-3 and also lost a fumble deep in Raven's territory, and he looked lost running around on the field.

Watching the Ravens' offense attempt to march down the field was painful. Each QB that Baltimore sent out failed to take control of the offense and last night's game made it painfully obvious that the QB controversy in Baltimore is far from resolved.

I know Harbaugh has said that Boller is his starter, but I feel that is only the case because the other two look even worse than he does.

2. The Browns' offense looks good. Real good.

The first-team offense was given only one possession, but with that, they were able to march down the field on an improved Jets defense and punch it in for six.

Anderson looked smooth in the pocket, going 4-5 for 20 yards and a TD. He also showed good instinct and playmaking ability when he scrambled for a first down on 3rd-and-6 inside the red zone.

Stallworth and Edwards looked comfortable running their routes, and Braylon turned in a circus catch that also accounted for a TD.

The Browns have the potential to be a scary team when they have the ball, and from the looks of things, I say they will deliver on that potential.

3. The Redskins are serious contenders in the NFC East.

What I saw while watching the Redskins is an improved offensive unit that will compete in a stacked NFC East. Campbell looked comfortable and efficient in the pocket, going 5-5 with a TD, and Colt Brennan turned in one hell of a performance, posting a stat line of 9-10 for 123 yards and 2 TDs.

Look for Brennan to become Campbell's backup by season's end.

While studs such as Jason Taylor and Clinton Portis did not suit up, watching the Redskins' demeanor, both on the field and off, makes me think that they could put a run together and surprise some teams in the upcoming season.

4. I think Larry Fitzgerald will have a tremendous year, regardless of who the Cardinal's starting QB turns out to be.

While being interviewed after being pulled from the game, Fitzgerald seemed confident, but not cocky, a characteristic that should comfort both Cardinal fans and fantasy football owners who have Fitz on their squad. He was excited about not only himself, but the team as a whole, going into 2008.

While some will say that he will not be as driven to play through injury since he just inked a new deal, I don't see Fitzgerald as one of those players. He loves the game, and I predict that he will have a career year as a way to say thank you to Arizona for giving him a new contract.

5. Watching New York Jets TE A.J Schable go down after a head-to-head collision on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter made me, as well as the rest of nation, flashback immediately to Kevin Everett's situation from last year.

I know that nothing illegal took place, but I can't help but feel that eventually, and I think it will happen sooner than later, a player will become paralyzed, maybe worse, as a result of the violent collisions that occur during kickoffs.

I was glad to see Schable flash a thumbs up as he left the field, and I wish him the speediest of recoveries.

Fab-Five Fantasy Football Sleepers

Patrick Shields — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:46:32 -0400

I'll start by clarifying what I mean by a sleeper pick, as my article on this year's fantasy busts seemed to draw a fair amount of criticism due to me selecting some players that will have a good year, they just won't live up to their pre-draft hype.

I see a sleeper pick as a player I draft in the fifth round or later that puts up numbers that greatly exceed his draft position.

I'll provide you all with an example.

Last year, I drafted Wes Welker in the 10th round of a PPR league, and he finished as the No. 4 receiver overall, a position significantly higher than he was expected to finish going into the season.

With that being said, my top-five fantasy sleepers of 2008:

1. Jason Campbell

Watching him play on Sunday further solidified Campbell as my top fantasy sleeper going into the 2008-2009 season. While I do not foresee Campbell making the jump into the QB elite, I do feel he will go undrafted in most leagues and will finish the season as a top-10 QB.

Jim Zorn's West Coast offense suits Campbell, and the additions of Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, and Fred Davis will bolster the Redskins' attack. While Kelly could potentially be sidelined with a knee injury, Thomas figures to start the season as the team's No. 3 receiver and could possibly surpass Randle El as the No. 2 by season's end. While Fred Davis will certainly not start over Chris Cooley, Zorn does figure to use two TEs for a number of plays, which will allow Davis to see more PT.

Throw in Santana Moss and Clinton Portis, as well as an improving defense, and all signs point to Campbell having a solid year and making himself into one of the NFL's better QBs.

2. Anthony Gonzalez

Two words: Brandon Stokley. In 2004, Stokley racked up 1,000+ yards and 10+ TDs while serving as Manning's slot receiver, the same position Gonzalez will be filling this season.

The difference between the two, though, is that in the five years prior to 2004, Stokley never surpassed 350 yards receiving and never solidified himself as a receiving threat, two things that Gonzalez managed to do in his rookie season.

Gonzalez posted 500+ yards receiving last season and three TDs while averaging a ridiculous 15.6 YPC. These stats, along with the luxury of having Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark taking a significant amount of the defensive pressure off him is why I see Gonzalez having a monster year.

This pick depends, of course, on Manning returning to form after his knee surgery, but I have full confidence in him and expect him to post 30+ TDs and 3,500 yards while leading a Colts offense that will once again rank as one of the league's elite.

3. Rashard Mendenhall

While Willie Parker will handle the majority of the workload, the Steelers' offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has praised Mendenhall's work and camp, and he has also hinted that Mendenhall could become the goal-line back.

If that happens, Mendenhall's fantasy value will skyrocket. While he won't deliver many 100-yard rushing performances, if any, he could very easily post one to two TDs on any given Sunday.

Mendenhall is a great late-round steal and could provide a fantasy owner with anywhere from 0 to 15 points in a given week. If drafted, look to start Mendenhall in bad-weather games, as the Steelers will most likely look to grind out a W through the running game.

4. Alge Crumpler

On most boards, Crumpler serves as the No. 13 TE, a ranking I feel is a great disservice to the proven veteran. Crumpler, like Campbell, will most likely go undrafted in most leagues but has the potential to finish somewhere near the No. 5 fantasy TE.

Vince Young does not go deep. In his two-year tenure for the Titans, he has only thrown six passes of 40+ yards. That being said, Alge Crumpler does not go deep, either. The lumbering TE is known for his sure hands and precise route running, and was often Michael Vick's favorite target during his days in Atlanta.

Vince Young, who shares the scrambling QB title that was placed on Vick, will often look to Crumpler when he gets in trouble behind the line.

Crumpler's number of catches and TDs will increase this year, as I feel by season's end, Crumpler will have become Young's favorite passing target, ahead of unproven WRs Justin Gage and Justin McCareins.

5. Devin Hester

In leagues that award points for KR and PR yards, Hester is a must. As long as teams keep kicking to him, he will continue to make big plays, which in turn will make any fantasy owner happy.

While I do not see him posting six return TDs again, I do see him emerging as the WR threat that Chicago so desperately needs (they also need a QB, RB, and TE, but that isn't the focus right now).

Look for Hester to be available late and monitor how Lovie Smith uses him in the early weeks of the season.

Smith will slowly ease his star into the offensive scheme, so don't look for Hester to post big receiving numbers early, but by season's end, he should be challenging to be the Bears' No. 1 WR.

Fab-Five Fantasy Football Busts: Avoid These Players at All Costs

Patrick Shields — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:12:39 -0400

Last night's Colts-Redskins game marked the official opening of the football season, which to millions out there it means it is time to start preparing for our annual fantasy-football draft.

Whether your draft takes place in your parent's basement or the company boardroom, one rule remains consistent: DON'T PICK THE BUST.

Every year there are a multitude of busts, and at some point, in everyone's fantasy-football career, they have been unlucky enough to draft that bust. Michael Vick in 2003 (broken leg during the preseason), Shaun Alexander in 2006 (1,000 less rushing yards and 20 less TDs than a year before), and Thomas Jones last year (1 Rushing TD over the course of the season,) all serve as painful reminders of top picks being wasted on talent that doesn't pan out.

So, as draft day approaches, I am here to provide America with my Top-five players to avoid come draft day.

1. Larry Johnson

L.J. is my No. 1 bust for the 2008 season. However, this is not due to his own shortcomings, but to the short comings of the team that surrounds him. An offseason that saw the Chiefs bring in only three new linemen, none of which are notable, does not bode well for Johnson's YPC.

The Chiefs' O-line will get bullied around by stronger and more experienced defensive units in the AFC, which will mean less yardage and TD's for L.J.

A weak offensive-line can sometimes be counter-balanced by a veteran QB and a talented receiving corps, two things that the Chiefs also do not have.

Brodie Croyle will struggle in his first full season as the starting QB and with Jeff Webb (I'll pause for you to research who the hell Jeff Webb is) being the leading candidate for the No. 2 receiver position, do not look for many AFC teams to stack their secondary against the Chiefs.

L.J. will constantly see teams stack eight in the box against them, and while he has the talent to carry for 1,700+ yards and 10+ TDs, his team does not.

2. Tom Brady

This will be quick and simple. Tom Brady will have a good season and will throw for around 30 TDs, but people who are using a top-three pick on Brady because he posted 50 TDs last year will be disappointed to see him not get near those numbers again.

One of the most important things to take into account while drafting is the marginal point differential among players at each position. The difference in total points between the No. 1 QB and the No. 10 QB is more likely to be smaller than the difference in total points between the No. 1 and No. 10 RB.

Getting a stud RB early and a solid QB in round four is a much safer option than taking Brady with your top pick and praying that Michael Turner or some later round RB will come through.

3. Willis McGahee

Same reasons as Larry Johnson, only I feel that Baltimore has slightly better receivers, as well as a superior defense, which will result in the Raven's offense getting more time with the ball than the Chiefs.

4. Marques Colston

Bust may not be the right word, but the signing of Jeremy Shockey, as well as what I feel will finally be the year Reggie Bush bursts through, will hamper Colston's boisterous numbers from previous years.

Shockey has averaged approximately 62 catches a year, and with the Saints pass-happy offense, that number will most likely go up. Look for Shockey to pull in around 70 catches this year, a 22 catch increase over Eric Johnson's total from last year. More catches for Shockey means less catches for Colston and fewer opportunities to score.

Also, Colston having his knee drained is a fairly standard procedure, but anything involving a WR and his knee makes me uneasy. I don't think Colston will have a awful year, but I do not feel he will live up the second or third-round pick many people give up for him.

5. Donovan McNabb

Over the past three seasons, McNabb has played nine, 10, and 14 games respectively. While some will say last year showed that McNabb can still play for the majority of the year, I say that McNabb is entering his 10th year in the league and will celebrate his 32nd birthday come November, two things that do not bode well for a QB.

Add in the fact that he is playing in the toughest division in the NFC, if not the entire NFL, and in front of some of least forgiving fans in the league, and I see McNabb going down again with injury and the Kevin Kolb era beginning in Philadelphia. Buyer beware of McNabb come draft day.

Top Five Players Not Getting the Credit They Deserve

Patrick Shields — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:14:59 -0400

I know Lance Berkman is having a career year. I am aware that K-Rod is on pace to break the single season saves record. I have heard endless stories about Josh Hamilton and the breakthrough season he is having. But what about the players that no one is talking about?

The people contributing under the radar to their team's (or in some cases, simply their own) success? Below are my top five players who are not getting the love from the media that they deserve.

1. Grady Sizemore—I know, I know, he was chosen to play in the All-Star game and he participated in the HR Derby, but Sizemore is not getting the type of attention he deserves.

All he has done since he started playing full time in 2005 is average 20+ HR and SB's, 80 RBI's and 110 runs scored, and this year he looks to make the leap to the 30-30 club. Also on pace to set a career high in SLG percentage, Sizemore is one of the most gifted athletes in the game yet he gets overlooked on a daily basis.

2. Joakim Soria—An all-star as well, but Soria's numbers have been overlooked this year due to Rivera's career year and K-Rod chasing the saves record. George Sherrill of Baltimore has been receiving a large amount of media attention and praise this year because of his extraordinary season, yet his numbers are dwarfed by Soria's.

Soria's ERA is nearly three points lower than Sherrill's and he has converted 30 of 32 save opportunities, while Sherrill is slightly less effective, going 30-36. Soria also boasts a 5:1 K/BB ratio and has given up only 25 hits in 49 innings. While he may not break any records this year, Soria deserves more credit than he is getting, as he is one of the few bright spots on the Kansas City Royals.

3. Carlos Lee—Overlooked on his on team due to Lance Berkman's monster year, Carlos Lee is quietly putting together a tremendous year. On pace to set a career high in RBI's, Lee is third in the majors behind only Hamilton and Ryan Howard.

While he might not surpass his current best 37 HR mark, Lee will no doubt finish with 30+. I respect what Corey Hart and David Wright are doing this year, but for Lee not to receive one of the last two spots for the All-Star game is a travesty.

4. Chad Billingsley—Who? That was my first thought after I saw his name fourth in the league in K's, but after doing some research and watching some of his recent highlights I am convinced this guy has the tools to be a dominant pitcher in the years to come. With a 3:1 K/BB ration and a 3.05 ER, Billingsley is a legitimate pitching presence and will no doubt pass his previous career high in wins (12) within the next month.

5. Mark DeRosa—I'm not 100 percent on this, but I think DeRosa has played every fielding position, racked up two wins, notched a save, and managed a game or two so that Pinella can hit up a pub. It seems DeRosa is everywhere for the Cubs this year and he is an integral part of their success.

He is on pace to set a career high in both RBI's and HR's, as well as make a run at setting a new career high in hits. Easily overlooked on a team that has Soriano, D-Lee, and Big Z, DeRosa is quietly putting together a career year and giving the Cubs the extra bump they need.

The Revival of Baseball

Patrick Shields — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:55:03 -0400

For those of you who were not fortunate enough to watch the Cubs/Brewers game last night you missed perhaps the most exhilarating game of the season so far. From Ryan Braun's massive HR to Derrek Lee's 2-run double in the ninth to the raucous Milwaukee crowd, this game felt as if it was being played in October and not July.

Outfield bleacher seats were reportedly being scalped for over $100...$100 for a game in July.... in Milwaukee? Really? Yes sir. Know why? Because baseball is back and stronger than ever and last night's game between the Brew Crew and Cubbies showed it. America is catching baseball fever and it is no longer just the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry that has meaning and passion.

Cubs/ Brewers, Mets/Phillies, and even Twins/White Sox are all evolving into heated rivalries as America's zeal for baseball blossoms again. Skeptics worried that the controversy over steroids and the Mitchell Report could possibly hamper the 2008 season but so far, it looks just the opposite.

I mean, Minnesota fans are beginning to pack the dome again as if it were 1991 all over again and Tampa Bay suddenly has a fan base. Who would have thought, that after watching Roger Clemens babble on like an idiot in front of Congress that baseball would be where it is right now.

Baseball is alive and well and as the season pushes on towards the playoffs, we are no doubt in store for more games like last night. Summer is winding down but the playoff race is heating up, and for this baseball fan, that is more than enough to keep me going.

Clearing up the NL East; Buh-Bye Tex, Hello NY, and the Fish Refuse to Die

Patrick Shields — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:25:26 -0400

The first half of the 2008 MLB season left us breathless. We saw a team, whose name has been synonymous with failure for so long, overcome both the Red Sox Nation and Yankee Country.

We saw a man overcome his personal demons and addictions and begin to fulfill the expectations that were put on him when he was selected first overall in 1999.

We saw teams spend big bucks and receive little results (Yankees, Tigers) while small markets teams reaped rewards without paying a pretty penny (Rays, Marlins).

After a splendid first half, what will the second half of the season hold as we make our way towards October?

Playoff Picture. The phrase will be uttered thousands of times in the coming months, so much that you will want to mute Tim Kurkjian and the rest of the Baseball Tonight Crew just so you don't have to hear it.

The overuse of the phrase will be deserved though, as it is shaping up to one of the more thrilling playoff races in recent memory, with no division except the AL West having a clear leader.

The NL East was as competitive as any other coming out of the break with four teams having serious hopes of winning the division. Over the past week, each of these four teams have played at least one of its division rivals, with the Braves and Phillies each playing two.

It was a thrilling week for fans of teams in the NL East, and after yesterday's results, the playoff picture has become a little bit clearer.

The Braves are done. With six consecutive games against division rivals, the Braves needed to come away with at least four wins to still consider themselves serious contenders.

After last night’s disappointing loss to the Phillies, in which the Braves blew a five run lead for the second straight day, they will no doubt look to shop Mark Teixeira and attempt to rebuild for next year.

It's a shame that a team with as much offensive potential as the Braves was letdown by an extensive amount of injuries to its pitching staff throughout the season.

The Marlins will simply not go away. A team without a notable pitching ace or closer has managed to hang around all year and put up enough runs to keep winning games.

That being said, their lack of pitching as well as poor play in the field, the Marlins are among the league leaders in errors, will lead to their demise near the end of the season. It has been over a hundred years since a team has led the league in errors and went on to winning a world series and the Marlins will not be the team to end that streak.

The Phillies problem is simple. Hitting: Check, Relief Pitcher: Check, Pitching: Problem. While the Phillies overall team ERA is respectable, 14th in the league at 4.04, it goes without saying that their starting pitching has problems.

It has been an off year for Cole Hamels and while acquiring Joe Blanton from the A's recently helps, he is not the arm that will push the Phils over the top.

Brett Meyers might soon follow Dontrelle Willis to AAA, and Jamie Moyer could keel over on the mound at any point. The offense will continue to produce, but the lack of consistent arms will keep Philadelphia out of the playoffs.

There were skeptics when Jerry Manuel was named interim head coach of the Mets after Willie Randolph's late night firing, but all he has done since taking over is rejuvenate the stagnant offense and lead the Mets to a 22-12 record along with a seat atop the division.

The pitching is also starting to click as Johan Santana is returning to form and Mike Pelfrey has been unhittable as of late.

Look for Omar Minaya to try to swing a trade for an OF to add depth to their lineup and look for the Mets to win the division and make a strong push to represent the National League in the World Series.